Today, the County Government of Siaya hosted Mr. Ronald Adika, the Project Assistant at Transparency International (TI) Kenya.
TI Kenya is an organization committed to promoting a corruption-free society through four strategic focus areas: citizens’ demand and oversight, natural resources and governance, public finance and management, and institutional development.
During the engagement, Mr. Adika took county officials from various departments through the objectives, requirements, and approaches of TI Kenya, aimed at fostering collaboration between the organization and the County Government. The discussions centered on developing a joint proposal that will address Siaya’s governance needs and bridge existing accountability gaps.
TI Kenya also highlighted its ongoing initiatives under the Usawa Mashinani Project – Phase 3, which focuses on enhancing transparent governance and inclusive decision-making. The project involves continuous engagement with county officials, the County Assembly, and youth groups. Notably, youths from institutions such as Maseno University have been trained on budget processes at both the county and national levels to strengthen their participation in governance and annual budget reviews.
Among the key objectives of TI Kenya’s initiatives are:
Strengthening the capacity of marginalized groups to address corruption and accountability issues within institutions.
Enhancing transparency and accountability mechanisms at the county level.
Improving access to justice for marginalized groups.
Mr. Jared Abayo, Director of Public Participation and Governance, also addressed the forum, elaborating on the Public Participation Policy and responding to questions and concerns raised by participants.
He highlighted challenges facing effective public participation in Siaya, including limited civic education and low citizen involvement, especially during budget formulation processes.
Participants also raised concerns about the accessibility, validity, and timeliness of public information, which affects the quality of citizen engagement.
Transparency International Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate closely with the County Assembly, the County Government of Siaya, and the citizens to enhance accountability, transparency, and service delivery.